The Miting by Dee Yoder

love for her. Could the questions and desires that burned in her be settled by the love of a good Amish man?

C HAPTER S IX
    A fter a relaxing day of reading, playing games, and napping, Leah’s family had supper. It had been a typical church Sunday. Visits to family and friends usually happened on the off Sundays—the days when church services weren’t scheduled. Most of the time, church Sundays were quiet days.
    Leah and Ada washed the suppah dishes, and as eight o’clock drew near, Leah went up to her room to get ready for the youth singing. She made sure her kapp and dress were wrinkle and spot free, and tucked in a few wayward strands of hair. Finally, it was time to head to the Masts’ place again. Daniel took her in his buggy, since he planned to meet Sara there.
    A large crowd had already gathered when Leah and Daniel arrived. The church’s young people, age fifteen or sixteen and older, gathered in the barn and talked for a while before Anna Mast called them in to the kitchen. They sat across from one another, boys on one side, girls on the other, and sang through song after song. Jacob caught Leah’s eye from time to time, and she saw him whisper to his friend John. She wondered if he would send John over to ask if he could take her home.
    Though she longed to have Jacob’s attention, she was nervous. What if he wanted what Martha did with boys? Leah was sure she wasn’t ready for any of that.
    As the singing slowed and the popcorn and apples were passed, she watched John head her way.
    He grinned as he came near. “Hey, you think you’d like Jacob Yoder to take you home tonight?”
    She glanced around, wishing he had waited until they were outside. Right here, in spite of the mingling and loud chattering, she felt conspicuous. “Um … I guess that would be okay.”
    John chuckled. “Just okay? Should I tell him that?”
    Leah flushed. “No—I mean, yes, I’d like that.”
    “Got it. He said to wait for him near the side door, and he’ll bring the buggy along.”
    “Okay.”
    Nervous energy held sway with Leah the rest of the evening. She didn’t know what Jacob’s family expected: Did they hold with bed courtship? She was pretty sure most of the church folks in her district did not like bed courtship. Would he expect her to sit on the couch with him and kiss? She had heard such stories from older girls, but now that it was her turn, she was petrified of doing too much or too little. It was just as shameful to back away from courting as it was to go too far.
    Maem hadn’t been much help. She had never told Leah a thing about dating, courtship, marriage, or even about a woman’s monthly cycle. She’d learned it all from friends.
    At least when it’s Ada’s turn, she can ask me questions.
    Finally the party broke up, and Leah tried to sneak off to the dark corner of the side door. But as she hurried away, Martha called to her. “Don’t stay up too late, Leah. And make sure you keep a light going in the kitchen.” She snickered when Leah shook her head. The girls gathered around Martha, gawking as Jacob pulled the buggy alongside her. When they rode off, she heard laughter and squeals from their peers.
    The dark lane swallowed them in shadows quickly, and Leah was relieved that part was over.
    Jacob reached around her and pulled a sweet-smelling quilt over her lap. So he had prepared. She smiled into the darkness at his thoughtfulness.
    “Are you warm enough?”
    His voice, deep and friendly, filled her with happiness. “Yes—I’m plenty warm.”
    They listened to the night sounds, punctuated by Bingo’s hooves. He was proud of his rig and his horse. He took care of his animal and was gentle—unlike some she knew who drove their horses too hard and fed them scanty meals. Daet said it didn’t make sense to treat horses that way: all that did was guarantee the need for a new horse sooner, rather than later. From what she’d seen, Jacob followed the same practice with Bingo.
    “I hope